Marketplace Blog

Dirt-cheap alternatives to the Google Nexus Q

A 7-inch quad-core tablet for $199? Got my credit card right here!

A media-streaming orb for $299? Not so fast.

These were the two big announcements during yesterday's Google I/O keynote, and while the Google Nexus 7 tablet has "smash hit" written all over it, the Nexus Q media-streaming orb will probably be the biggest flop since Google TV.

What's wrong with the Q? Simple: it has too many digits in its price tag.

As noted in CNET's Nexus Q First Take, this heavy black orb is designed to stream songs, videos, and photos to your more

Get a Planar 27-inch desktop monitor for $209.99

Big monitors are awesome. They're easier on aging eyes like mine, and they let you keep multiple windows open without forcing you to scroll around a lot within them.

For a limited time, Dell Home has the Planar PX2710MW 27-inch LCD monitor for $209.99 shipped (plus sales tax in some states). That's after applying coupon code F783J2GMPWM$D1 at checkout.

It sells elsewhere for $40-80 more.

The PX2710MW is a 1080p monitor, meaning it has a native resolution of 1,920 x 1,080 pixels. That's great, though anyone seeking to do any really detailed photo-editing more

Get Just Cause 2 (Win) for $3.74

I love a good game deal, and they don't come any, er, gooder than this.

Today only, Gamersgate has Just Cause 2 (Windows) for $3.74. No, there's not a number missing; that's 3 dollars and 74 cents.

In other words, for about the price of a cafe mocha, you can get one of the top-rated action games of 2010 and enjoy hours, days, even weeks of PC entertainment.

And just what the heck is Just Cause 2? Here's a telling excerpt from GameSpot's review of the game:

Just Cause 2 is ridiculous in the more

Get a 32GB flash drive for $9.97

The other day, as part of a bonus deal, I wondered aloud how long it would be before 32GB flash drives dipped below $10.

Not long, apparently. While supplies last, TigerDirect has the Patriot PSF32GFXUSB Xporter Flex 32GB Flash Drive for $9.97 shipped. That's your post-rebate price (PDF); it'll cost you $19.97 to get out the door.

Assuming you don't have a deep-seated hatred of rebates (many people do), that's an incredibly low price. It was scarcely six months ago that I was crowing about piddly 8GB drives for under $10.

The PSF32GFXUSB -- more

Get a pair of Sennheiser CX 485 earbuds for $19.99

Are you still using the earbuds that came with your smartphone or MP3 player? I'll wager they're not the most comfortable headphones to wear, and I guarantee they don't help block outside noise (unless you crank the volume, which is ruinous to your hearing.)

Do your ears all kinds of favors and switch to in-ear headphones. Like these: Newegg has the Sennheiser CX 485 in-ear noise-blocking headphones for $19.99 shipped when you apply promo code EMCNDHD65 at checkout. (As always, you need to be a Newegg newsletter subscriber to use the code.) That's a full more

Is a Nintendo Wii a good deal at $79.99?

It wasn't that long ago that the Nintendo Wii was one of the most sought-after items on the planet. Especially around the holidays, when supply simply couldn't meet demand. The then-revolutionary game console was selling on eBay for double, triple, even quadruple its $249 list price.

Now you can get it for 80 bucks.

Specifically, GameStop has the refurbished Nintendo Wii console for $79.99, plus $4.99 for shipping (and not including sales tax, where applicable). That's the lowest price I've ever seen.

Of course, Nintendo's next-generation Wii U console is just around the corner, more

Get a refurbished Roku 2 XD for $59.99

A Roku box is the single best way to bring streaming media into your home. It slings not just Netflix, but also Amazon Instant Video, CNET, HBO Go, Hulu Plus, MLB.tv, Pandora, and a host of other awesome channels.

For a limited time, you can get the refurbished Roku 2 XD for $59.99 shipped. That's a savings of $20, and the same price you'd otherwise pay for the lesser Roku 2 HD model.

Never mind that it's a refurb: it comes with the same 90-day warranty as new Rokus. (I'm a bit surprised that more

Get a 1TB Seagate USB 3.0 hard drive for $82.99

Greetings from 34,000 feet! Even while hurtling through the sky, I'm on the lookout for cheap deals. (They're easier to spot from up here.) Isn't technology amazing?

USB 3.0 is finally starting to take hold, with at least one compatible port appearing on the latest laptops and desktops. Of course, that high-speed interface is no good if you don't have devices that can take advantage of it.

Like this one: for a limited time, and while supplies last, Dell Home has the 1-terabyte Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex USB 3.0 external hard drive for $82.99 shipped. more

Subscribe to Pogoplug Family for $19.95, get a free Pogoplug

For the past year or so, Pogoplug has been steadily reinventing itself. After earning raves for its eponymous network-storage adapters, the company moved into consumer cloud storage, then introduced team-storage solution aimed at small and medium businesses.

Along the way, Pogoplug devices have been introduced and discontinued, and the aforementioned consumer storage service, Pogoplug Cloud, seems to have disappeared. As someone who's been following the company closely, I'll admit to being occasionally confused by Pogoplug's strategy and lineup.

But there's no confusion here: through Sunday, and while supplies last, you can get a free Pogoplug Classic device when you sign up for the new Pogoplug Family backup service.more